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Posted on 09/11/2019, 4:02 PM

Cabot Public Schools Background Checks

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Posted on 08/21/2019

UPDATE - KATV 7 confirmed in its most recent report 8/21/19 that the station did complete a background check on this individual and, "We did not find anything that would have raised any red flags."

Alex Burch - KATV Reporter

We are extremely grateful for the countless number of volunteers that have a positive influence on our students. Based on recent allegations against a volunteer in the Cabot School District during the 2014-2015 school year, the district takes this opportunity to revisit the history of our volunteer program and to reiterate our focus on providing a safe and secure environment for all students in all areas of our school system.

Hallway Heroes, the district’s official volunteer program, was created to provide parents, family members, and community members the opportunity to serve in various roles in our schools. As part of our district standards, Hallway Heroes must submit to background checks and agree to follow all school policies and procedures while serving in their volunteer role. Over the last five years, the Cabot School District has submitted over 13,000 requests for background checks.

As the district has reported, a former volunteer in our athletic department during the 2014-2015 school year has been charged with sexual assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This individual would accompany his spouse, a staff member in our athletic department, to occasional practices and interact with student-athletes under the supervision of our coaching staff. Though there is not any reason to believe that a background check would have disqualified this individual from volunteering, he should have been required to follow the same procedure as other volunteers and he did not do so.

While school districts did not do extensive background checks in the past, like they do today, allegations like this serve as a reminder that we must continue to be vigilant. All staff, including coaching staff in our athletic department, has been reminded that all volunteers in our program should be held to the same standard as volunteers and visitors in our schools.

The district has been notified that any additional information in regard to this case be directed to the Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.